Bangladesh population now 16.51 crore

Staff Reporter :
The Census report has shown a sign of increased number of women compared with their male counterparts, comprising the total population of the country now stands at 165,158,616.
As per the Census 2022, the average annual population growth rate is 1.22 percent which was 1.46 in 2011.
The total number of females is 83,347,206 while males are 81,712,824 and the hijras are 12,629, according to the preliminary report of the sixth Population and Housing Census 2022.
In the last census in 2011, the total population was 14.4 crore. Of which, males were 72,109,796 and female were 71,933,901.
Compared with the last census, the total number of population has increased by 2,11,14,919.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) disclosed the Census report at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital on Wednesday where Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Parliament was present as the Chief Guest.
The findings of the report revealed that the population density has gone up, number of Muslims have gone up while Hindus decreased to some extent, ethnic minority is also up.
The literacy rate shows a sign of rise, but the disability rate is so to some extent.
The household size has decreased compared with the last Census in 2011 which indicates the rising trend of nuclear families.  
Apart from this, the dependency rate has declined which manifests the self-sufficiency of people.
The report said, the total number of households in the country is now 3,59,90,951. Of which, 27,811,667 in rural areas while 8,179,284 in urban areas.
The highest number of households is in Dhaka division which is 8,119,205 while the lowest number is in Sylhet division 1,885,017.
The density of the population has gone up in the latest Census which stands at 1,119 while it was 976 in the last Census.
As per the division wise population, the highest number of population is in Dhaka division which is 4,42,15,107 and the lowest number is in Barishal division 91,00,102.
The number of male population in Dhaka division is 2,24,59,822, female 2,17,21,556 and Hijra 4,577 while in Barishal the male population is 44,36,750, female 46,58,421 and Hijra 563.
In Chattogram, the total population is 3,32,02,326, Rajshahi 2,03,53,119, Rangpur 1,76,10,956, Khulna 1,74,16,645, Mymensingh 1,22,25,498 and Sylhet 1,10,34,863.
The annual population growth in Dhaka is 1.74 percent, Chattogram 1.39 percent, Barishal 0.79 percent, Khulna 0.93 percent, Rajshahi 0.86 percent, Rangpur 0.98 percent and Sylhet 0.96 percent.
With the rising trend of population in the city corporations, the highest population has been recorded in Dhaka North City Corporation which is 4,979,537 while the lowest is in Barishal 4,19,351.
But the highest density of population lives in Dhaka South City Corporation which is 39,353 per square kilometer and it 3,444 in Rangpur City Corporation.
The Census has forecast the lowest sex ratio which stands at 98.04 and it means the number of male is 98 against the number of their female counterpart 100. The highest sex ratio is in Dhaka 103.40 while the lowest is in Chattogram 93.38.
In the last Census, the sex ratio was 100.3 while it was 108 in the first Census in 1974.
BBS report said that the population growth rate has shown a sign of reduction though the number of population has increased.
The growth rate in 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2022 is 2.84 percent, 2.01 percent, 1.58 percent, 1.46 percent and 1.22 percent respectively.
The report also shows the rising trend of population density in the country. The first Census recorded the population density at 484 in per square kilometer which goes up in second Census of 1981 when it was 590. Later in 1991, it was 720, 2001 it was 976 and current it has stood at 1,119.
The total number of population living in rural area now stands at 11,30,63,587 which was 11,04,80,514 in 2011 while the urban population is 52,009,072 and it was 33,563,183 , which clearly shows urbanization is expanding with its population.
The marital report manifests that currently there are 28.65 percent population aged 10 years and above never married and it was 31.99 in the last Census. Of them, 35.6 percent are male and 21.95 percent are female.
Currently 68.26 percent are married which was 63.12 percent in 2011. The highest married rate is in Rajshahi 68.97 percent and lowest in Sylhet 55.59 percent.
The percentage of widow/widower has gone up compared with the last census. Currently, it is 5.31 percent and it was 4.89 percent in the last census.
On the other hand, currently the rate of widow is 9.51 percent while the widower is 0.96 which clearly shows that the life expectancy of female has been increased compared with their male partners.
According to the population by religion, the number of Muslim is 91.04 percent, Hindu 7.95 percent, Buddhist 0.61 percent, Christian 0.30 percent and others 0.12 percent.
In 2011 Census, Muslim was 90.39 percent, Hindu 8.54 percent, Buddhist 0.62 percent, Christian 0.31 percent and others 0.12 percent.
The ethnic population is one percent of the total population. Of the 50 ethnic groups, the total population is 16,50,160 – male 8,24,751 and female 8,25,408. The highest ethnic groups lives in Chattogram which is 2.99 percent of the total population of the Division and the lowest in Barishal 0.05 percent.
About the number of the persons with disabilities, the Census finds that 1.43 percent i.e. 23,61,604 persons out of the total population have disabilities. Of them, 1.63 percent is male and 1.23 percent are female have disabilities. The highest disability rate is I Khulna division which is 1.77 percent and lowest in Dhaka division 1.08 percent.
Country’s literacy rate is now stands at 74.66 percent which was 51.77 percent in 2011. The male literacy is 76.56 percent and female 72.82 percent and Hijra 53.65 percent. Highest literacy rate is in Dhaka 78.09 percent and lowest Mymensingh 72.82 percent.
On the other hand, the mobile phone user aged five and above is 55.89 percent – male 66.53 and female 45.53. The internet user aged five and above is 30.68 percent.
The number of slum population is 18,00,486 while the floating population is 22,185 which was 1,47,674 in 2011.
The preliminary report also finds that 85.66 percent people’s main source of drinking water is tubewell while 11.74 percent use tap/pipe (supply), 0.89 percent use surface water, 0.35 percent uses well, 0.42 percent use rainwater and 0.12 percent use spring.
Some 56.04 percent population have toilet facilities with safe drainage by flushing/pouring water while 21.72 percent have access to pit latrine with slab and 12.86 percent have unsafe drainage.
About the electricity, BBS finds that 97.61 percent of electricity comes from national grid, 1.45 percent from Solar and 0.75 percent population have no electricity facility.
Dr Shirin Sharmin said, “We had many speculations about the total population of the country. From now the total population is 16.5 crore. Here the women are more to some extend than men. We can engage more women in our workforce.”
She said this report will assist researchers, academicians and others to focus on the particular issues for the wellbeing of the country.
About the demographic dividend, she said, “The number of young population is more. It’s a boon for us. We can use them properly.”
Planning Minister MA Mannan said, “This report has shown the progress of the country in various sectors. The poverty rate has deceased, floating people have decreased. Dependency ration has declined which is a clear sign that more people are working.”
State Minister for Planning Ministry Dr Shamsul Alam, “The report is correct as it has been conducted by digital means.”
State Minister for Public Administration Ministry Farhad Hossain said, “The Census has found that Bangladesh has progressed in all indicators. This information is important for proper planning”
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus said, “This report indicates how much Bangladesh has progressed.”